NOR doth this grandeur and majestic shew
Much less my mind; though thou should'st add to
Their sumptuous gluttonies, and gorgeous feasts
On citron tables or Atlantic stone,
Their wines of Setia, Cales, and Falerne,
Chios and Crete, and how they quaff in gold,
Crystal, and myrrhine cups, emboss'd with gems
And studs of pearl.
Know, therefore, when my season comes to sit
On David's throne, it shall be like a tree
Spreading and overshadowing all the earth,
Or as a stone that shall to pieces dash
All monarchies besides throughout the world;
And of my kingdom there shall be no end.
PARADISE REGAINED, BOOK II.
CAN at will, doubt not, as soon as thou, Command a table in this wilderness, And call swift flights of Angels ministrant, Array'd in glory, on my cup to attend.
PARADISE REGAINED, BOOK II.
TO CHARLES DIODATI
HARLES-and I say it wondering-thou must
know
That I, who once assumed a scornful air,
And scoffed at Love, am fallen in his snare.
(Full many an upright man has fallen so.)
Yet think me not thus dazzled by the flow
Of golden locks, or damask cheek; more rare
The heartfelt beauties of my foreign fair,—
A mien majestic, with dark brows that show
The tranquil lustre of a lofty mind;
Words exquisite of idioms more than one,
And song, whose fascinating power might blind
And from her sphere draw down the labouring
Moon,
With such fire-darting eyes that, should I fill
My ears with wax, she would enchant me still,
COWPER'S TRANSLATION
Led by her Heavenly Maker, though unseen, And guided by his voice, nor uninform'd
Of nuptial sanctity and marriage rites.
Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye,
In every gesture dignity and love.
I overjoy'd, could not forbear aloud:
Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign,
Giver of all things fair, but fairest this
Of all thy gifts! nor enviest. I now see
Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, my self
Before me; Woman is her name, of Man
Extracted; for this cause he shall forgo
Father and mother, and to his wife adhere,
And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul.
Adam, PARADISE LOST, BOOK VIII.
Her loveliness, so absolute she seems
And in herself complete, so well to know
Her own, that what she wills to do or say
Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best:
All higher Knowledge in her presence falls
Degraded; Wisdom in discourse with her
Loses discountenanced, and like Folly shews;
Authority and Reason on her wait,
As one intended first, not after made
Occasionally; and to consummate all,
Greatness of mind and nobleness their seat
Build in her loveliest, and create an awe
About her, as a guard angelic placed.
Adam, PARADISE Lost, Book VIII.
WHAT higher in her society thou find'st
Attractive, human, rational, love still : In loving thou dost well; in passion not, Wherein true love consists not.
PARADISE Lost, Book VIII.
though divinely brought,
Yet innocence and virgin modesty,
Her virtue and the conscience of her worth,
That would be woo'd, and not unsought be won,
Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retired,
The more desirable; or, to say all,
Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought,
Wrought in her so, that, seeing me, she turn'd;
I follow'd her, she what was honour knew,
And with obsequious majesty approved
My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower
I led her blushing like the Morn; all Heaven,
And happy constellations, on that hour
Shed their selectest influence; the Earth
Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill;
Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs
Whisper'd it to the woods, and from their wings
Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub,
Disporting, till the amorous bird of night
Sung, spousal, and bid haste the evening star
On his hill top to light the bridal lamp.
Adam, PARADISE LOST, BOOK VIII,
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